A gang of nine men who groomed white girls as young as 13 with drink and drugs were driven by "lust and greed", a judge said on Wednesday as the group's sentences were delivered.

The men heard their sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court after being convicted yesterday of conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with children under the age of 16 and other offences.

The group of nine received 118 years worth of sentencing in total, however some of the sentences will be run concurrently.

The man seen as the ringleader, a 59-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, was jailed for a total of 19 years for conspiracy, two counts of rape, aiding and abetting a rape, sexual assault and a count of trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation.

The defendant was previously banned from court because of his threatening behaviour and for calling the judge a "racist bastard".

Takeaway worker Kabeer Hassan, 25, of Lacrosse Avenue, Oldham, Greater Manchester, was jailed for nine years for rape and three years, concurrently, for the conspiracy conviction.

The 59-year-old ordered the first victim to have sex with Hassan as a "treat" for his birthday. He raped the girl, who was then aged 15.

Taxi driver Abdul Aziz, 41, of Armstrong Hurst Close, Rochdale, was sentenced to nine years for conspiracy and nine years, concurrently, for trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Married father-of-five and religious studies teacher Abdul Rauf, 43, of Darley Road, Rochdale, was jailed for six years for conspiracy and six years, concurrently, for trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Rauf, who teaches at a local mosque, asked a 15-year-victim if she had any younger friends and would drive some of the girls to other men, who would use them for sex, despite knowing they were underage.

Mohammed Sajid, 35, of Jepheys Street, Rochdale, was sentenced to 12 years for rape, six years for conspiracy, one year for trafficking and six years, all concurrent, for sexual activity with a child.

Adil Khan, 42, of Oswald Street, Rochdale, was given eight years for conspiracy and eight years, concurrently, for trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Khan, who is married with one child, fathered the child of a 13-year-old victim who believed she was in love with him.

Mohammed Amin, 45, of Falinge Road, Rochdale, was sentenced to five years for conspiracy and 12 months, concurrently, for sexual assault. Amin is known to be married with school-aged children.

Taxi driver Abdul Qayyum, 44, of Ramsay Street, Rochdale, was jailed for five years for conspiracy.

Philip Boyd, defending, said of his client: "He is a hard-working man of significant character in his community."

Illegal immigrant Hamid Safi, 22, of no fixed address, was jailed for four years for conspiracy and one year, concurrently, for trafficking.